Nick Foles will start for the Eagles in 2014, but his backup is yet to be determined. Credit: Getty Images
The NFL Combine is here and its start signifies the start of the pro football offseason.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman will need to start making decisions about which players to target and which positions to make a priority. And that means making a decision on whether the club should be looking at quarterbacks.
“Nobody’s saying we’re bringing in competition for Nick Foles or we’re outwardly looking for competition for Nick Foles,” Roseman told the Eagles’ website on Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Head coach Chip Kelly also holds the same disposition, claiming “there’s always competition.”
With Michael Vick likely on the move and Matt Barkley coming off a shaky season at the No. 3 spot, the Eagles do need a solid backup, and could select one in the draft.
“If there’s an opportunity in the draft to get a player at an important position, in this case we’re talking about quarterback, we’ve seen how that pays off in terms of even having backup quarterbacks how you can parlay that into other draft picks,” Roseman said.
The Eagles have clear needs in April’s NFL Draft. NFL Pundits are saying the team could use a pass-rusher as well as a safety to help bolster its underachieving defense improve in 2014.
But Roseman is standing pat, saying they will take the best player on the board with the 22nd overall pick in the first round.
If the Birds do look for safety help, NFL Network analyst and Philadelphia area native Mike Maylock suggests they take a close look at Alabama safety HaHa Clinton-Dix, one of the best safety’s in college football last season.
“He’s a guy with some real edge burst, and he’s a guy that would fit what the Eagles do,”Maylock said.
In what Maylock calls one of the “deepest and best” draft classes he has seen in years, several big names will likely be off the board before the Eagles pick.
Top prospects include South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson.
